Foto FairPost your photos for friendly, non-critical feedback. This is the place to show pictures if you aren't yet ready for full-blooded critique, or simply want to share an interesting picture with other e-group visitors.

I put up a quick bird feeder a few weeks ago hoping to attract a nice variety of birds to my garden and to it! I am taking a trip to Pets at Home tomorrow where my wife informs me there's loads of nicely designed bird feeders to choose from - so hopefully, I shall be in a position to take more shots of our feathered friend visitors to my garden.

Here's two I took the other day - my first attempts at this sort of stuff... must get myself a remote trigger release though so I don't frighten the little things off. They are taken through glass doors hence some mist/haze et al.

Thanks Peter. I have a tripod and asked the wife for a Monopod for Christmas - which I received (ta Jen )

I quite like the Monopod - and used it today on an outing to Slimbridge WWT with Heather and Jen, finding it very easy to position, comfortable to use, and a lot more versatile for this type of photography than my use of a tripod.

Appreciate that for the 'birds at home on feeder' shots I will continue to use the tripod - but may try the monopod (without cable release of course) hehehehe...

I must say that the 70-300 seems to be a very decent lens for the price.

Thanks Peter. I have a tripod and asked the wife for a Monopod for Christmas - which I received (ta Jen )

I quite like the Monopod - and used it today on an outing to Slimbridge WWT with Heather and Jen, finding it very easy to position, comfortable to use, and a lot more versatile for this type of photography than my use of a tripod.

Appreciate that for the 'birds at home on feeder' shots I will continue to use the tripod - but may try the monopod (without cable release of course) hehehehe...

I must say that the 70-300 seems to be a very decent lens for the price.

Glad you got the monopod. Could you give a report on it when you have had time to use it in anger. I like the idea of the convenience of a single telescopic leg but wonder about the stability side to side and front to back.

I do agree with you that the 70-300mm lens is superb. Purchased mine just before Xmas and have been really pleased with its performance. I have some Sonia magnifying lenses and a Sonia Macro lens purchased for use on the 40-150mm kit lens. The diameter of the 70-300 is the same so I shall see how these perform in Macro shots.

Sort of half and half really Susan... I take these shots from inside my conservatory, and the bird feeders are about 15-20' away. I have net curtains up on all but the French doors and so when sat at my desk, if I turn around I can see outside and through the nets. I (obviously) have the E-3 set up ready to go, but no remote shutter release so I have to be careful that when I go to place my hand on the camera to position and fire, that I do it slowly such that the birds don't spot the movement.

Here's a dreadful shot of my workspace - the French doors are to the right of this scene, almost behind the back of the chair.

it looks like a brilliant set-up you have there, ideal for catching the birds but I do understand what you mean about the movement. Garrie recently got a remote shutter release from ebay, cheap as chips, but works a treat
Might be worth checking it out, by the sound if it, it may make capturing your shots a bit easier

Hehe, I try to play keyboards but am not that good as I am totally self taught - it's one of my other hobbies. I tend to write on the synths. I am classically trained on brass instruments having started when I was 11... and I also count myself as very fortunate and privileged that I have 'perfect pitch', and so am able to feel music as it were which helps when you can't play keyboards

My fascination with the keyboards is more in the sounds they are capable of producing, than with being able to play them. Modern day synths, like cameras, are superbly engineered devices that can produce a wonderful array of stunning sounds and effects. Put several of these sounds/tunes/effects together in layers, and one finds oneself with a piece of music!! The bottom synth in that shot is my personal fav, and can produce stunning sounds. I tend to write and record music in the génres of easy listening, ambient and chillout - not too difficult with modern day synths.

As for the remote trigger - I will certainly be getting one of these pretty soon that's for sure.